740.00112A European War 1939/21405: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 4—6 a.m.]
6854. 1. Embassy has been informed orally, with reference to Department’s 6043, November 30, by Netherlands Ministry of Justice as follows:
- (a)
- Under a Dutch decree of October 22, 1942, a Black List Committee and Black List will be established. Black List Committee will meet under chairmanship of official of Ministry of Justice and will have representatives of Foreign Office, Ministry of Colonies, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Shipping. The Committee will meet in London and will make recommendations to the Minister of Justice who will promulgate list. Although there have been no meetings of Committee as yet it is believed that it will convene before Christmas and that first Dutch Black List will be published at approximately the same time as revision to Statutory List in January.
- (b)
- Prohibition of intercourse with any persons appearing on Dutch list will be binding on all Dutch subjects and Dutch nationals residing in United Nations or neutral territory. The Dutch intend to follow statutory listings in Eastern Hemisphere and Proclaimed listings in Western Hemisphere. Dutch officials believe that creation of their list will stop previously existing breach in blockade for there is at present no sanction against Dutch nationals trading with persons on Proclaimed and Statutory Lists other than threat of listing.
- (c)
- Netherlands Ministry of Justice believes that no concurrence other than that described in paragraph 2 will be necessitated by establishment of Dutch list. In Eastern Hemisphere Dutch Consuls who make independent investigations will report to the Netherlands Minister and he in turn will unofficially consult his British colleague. It is the Dutch desire that a somewhat similar procedure be followed in Western Hemisphere. However, Dutch feel that they would like to have the opportunity of listing Dutch nationals or firms with large Dutch interests in their own list previous to their publication either in the Statutory or Proclaimed List. Further, they believe that if they are to follow the Proclaimed List they would be somewhat loath to do so if they were given no voice whatsoever in the listings.
2. The Dutch attend the Black List Committee here as observers. A formal request was made by them for access to Ministry of Economic [Page 302] Warfare’s records. In acquiescing in this Ministry of Economic Warfare invited them to attend the Black List Committee and observe its work. Although Ministry of Economic Warfare maintains and [sic] that they are only observers a Dutch representative attends every meeting of the Black List Committee. Experience of Ministry officials and American member is that this Dutch representative does not intervene in cases other than those in which there is a Dutch interest.
3. No other United Nations Governments have requested representatives on Black List Committee. Black List Section Ministry of Economic Warfare believes that case of Dutch can be distinguished from others because of control of territory and large overseas interests. Belgian Congo, only other large United Nations territory under administration of government in exile, is adequately controlled by other than Black List means.
4. Dutch state that they have received invitation to attend Lisbon Status Committee. Neither Ministry of Economic Warfare nor this Embassy have any information in this regard.
5. Ministry of Economic Warfare states that far from dissuading Dutch from the establishment of Black List of their own they pressed them to institute one previous to invasion of Dutch East Indies by Japanese. The officials of Ministry believe that as Dutch territory is reoccupied the value of the Dutch Black List may increase. In fact they believe that such a list may well have another advantage in that it may open up additional sources of intelligence. This was emphasized in regard to Sweden where they state the Dutch representative is good intelligence officer. They also believe that existence of a Dutch list would not detract from Proclaimed and Statutory Lists but might even give them added strength. It is added by them that Black List Section of Ministry consults with United Nations Governments when question of listing Allied nationals or firms with large Allied interests arises. This procedure would have to be followed regarding Dutch interests even if the Netherlands Government did not have an observer on the Black List Committee.
6. Embassy hear Netherlands Government concurs in our view that in the circumstances it would not be practicable to cause Dutch withdrawal and suggests that unless there is a compelling reason it would be psychologically undesirable to attempt to dissuade them from establishing list.